Education

in committee · New York · Senate Feb 3, 2026

S 9105: Removes minimum year requirements for attendance at a New York high school when determining eligibility for certain student loans

This bill removes a requirement that students attend a New York high school for at least two years to qualify for certain state student loans. It directly affects New York high school graduates applying for undergraduate or graduate student loans under the state's higher education programs. The key change amends eligibility criteria in the Education Law, eliminating the two-year attendance rule while maintaining other requirements like graduation and timely application (within five years for undergrad, ten for grad). The policy change simplifies access to specific loans for students who may not have met the prior attendance threshold.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barrier to student loan eligibility, expanding access to higher education funding for New York high school graduates without requiring two-year attendance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 9116: Establishes an instant lottery scratch-off game to fund scholarships for veterans

This bill creates a new instant lottery scratch-off game called the "veterans' benefit game," with all proceeds funding scholarships for veterans through New York's Veterans Tuition Awards Program. The lottery tickets must clearly state that profits support veterans, and the generated funds will be placed into a dedicated "Veterans' Education and Scholarship Fund" managed by the state education department and comptroller. The fund will provide scholarship money directly to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation to administer the veteran tuition program. This establishes a permanent funding source for veteran education benefits through state lottery revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new lottery revenue stream to fund veterans' scholarships, directly increasing state education budget allocation for a specific program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds veterans' education scholarships via dedicated state fund, directly supporting higher education access and expanding educational opportunity for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates lottery to fund veterans' scholarships via dedicated education fund, directly advancing benefits through new revenue stream for existing program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Higher Education Student Financial Aid Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

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in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 26, 2026

A 10349: Relates to transportation requests for children with disabilities

Allows parents or guardians of children classified as either physically handicapped or developmentally disabled to submit transportation requests to their school district by July 1st.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables transportation access for disabled students, directly supporting educational access under K-12 services as defined in topic description.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Special Education Tags People with Disabilities

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 27, 2026

S 9313: Authorizes the lease of certain lands at SUNY college of environmental science and forestry for the purpose of building undergraduate and graduate student housing

Authorizes the state university of New York trustees are hereby authorized and empowered, without any public bidding, to lease and otherwise contract to make available to the Abby Lane Housing Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation, a portion of the lands of the university for the purpose of building undergraduate and graduate student housing.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes student housing construction at SUNY college, improving higher education infrastructure and student access to campus facilities.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill authorizes construction of student housing via non-profit, advancing affordable housing development without public bidding constraints.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 23, 2026

S 9240: Establishes a pilot program for schools with active aging programs or specializations in place

Establishes a pilot program for schools with active aging programs or specializations in place; creates a curriculum team that shall identify areas that are most relevant to persons working with older adults currently, and/or represent emerging and evidenced-based practices and create a suggested syllabus template for an advanced-year practice class in the field of aging; creates the workforce development center for professional development in gerontological/geriatric education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates curriculum team and workforce center for aging education, enhancing higher education curriculum development and professional training.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Tags Seniors

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 9124: Enacts the "building retention and internship-to-degree graduate employment (BRIDGE) act"

Enacts the "building retention and internship-to-degree graduate employment (BRIDGE) act"; provides limited work permits for students in a master of social work program; establishes policies and procedures for such work permit.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides work permits for MSW students, supporting higher education retention and employment pathways, aligning with educational access and student support indicators.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProvides limited work permits for MSW students, a service supporting immigrant integration and employment access.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education DACA & Dreamers Work Authorization

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in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 10197: Enacts the "educator expense assistance act"

This bill creates a new tax deduction for K-12 educators, allowing them to deduct up to $300 annually (or $600 for married couples filing jointly, with $300 each) for unreimbursed work-related expenses. It directly affects teachers, counselors, principals, and aides who worked at least 900 hours during a school year. Eligible expenses include professional development, books, supplies, computer equipment, and supplementary materials (with specific rules for health/physical education supplies). The deduction is added to the tax code as a concrete policy change, effective immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax deduction for educators, providing tax relief for middle-income teachers and directly reducing taxable income under taxation policy.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax deduction for educators' unreimbursed work expenses (professional development, supplies), directly supporting teachers' financial needs per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax deduction for educators' work expenses, reducing out-of-pocket costs and supporting employment standards for K-12 staff.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · New York · Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 10232: Authorizes the conveyance of certain property by the city of New York to The Allah Youth Center in Mecca Inc.

This bill authorizes New York City to transfer ownership of a specific parcel of land at 2122 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard in Harlem (Block 1932, Lot 29) to The Allah Youth Center in Mecca Inc. (The Allah School) at no cost. The land has been occupied by the organization since 1967, and the transfer recognizes its long-term service to the Harlem community. The bill requires the property be used exclusively for the school's educational, social, recreational, and community services, with a reverter clause that returns ownership to the city if the land is not used for these purposes. The conveyance is intended to help the organization establish a permanent facility for its community programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill transfers city land to educational institution for exclusive use in education/social services, recognizing long-term community service and mandating educational purpose.92% confidence

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 2, 2026

A 10079: Relates to the qualifications to serve as a member of the citywide council on English language learners and of the citywide council on high schools

Allows parents of a child who has ever received services through an English as a second language program to serve as a member of the citywide council on English language learners and of the citywide council on high schools even if the child is no longer enrolled.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands stakeholder representation in education policy by allowing ESL program parents to serve on councils, enhancing educational access and decision-making inclusivity.85% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly May 18, 2026

A 9625: Enacts the facilitating access to e-books for libraries act

Permits libraries and library systems to enter into cooperative purchasing agreements to purchase or license electronic literary materials; prevents contracts between publishers or aggregators and libraries or library systems from restricting the disclosure of certain information.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables libraries to access e-books via cooperative agreements, expanding educational resource access for students and public, aligning with educational access support indicators.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables libraries to cooperatively purchase e-books, expanding digital access to literary materials without restrictive contracts, aligning with 'expands internet access' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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